‘There’s a lot of shame attached to mental illness, you feel like something’s wrong with you.’

Earlier this week, Prince William revealed that just four years ago, he finally sought professional help for getting through the pain of his mother’s death. While Princess Diana passed away many years ago, Prince William lived with the darkness and the hurt for years and tried to work it out on his own. While the shock still exists, he’s moving forward in a positive way and encouraging others to do the same.

Prince William is one of the many public figures who are stepping forward to talk about mental health. For some, it’s easy to believe that they’re the only ones living in the darkness – it makes getting better seem that much more out of reach. When celebrities and those in the public eye use their platforms to talk about the need for change with mental illness, it opens doors that seemed to be locked tightly before.

Another celebrity who consistently uses their circumstance to talk about mental illness is Lady Gaga. She is a survivor in her own right, of both mental illness and sexual assault, and she wants nothing more than for those who have suffered as she has to feel like they’re not alone.

The two paired up for a FaceTime chat about asking for help and the #oktosay hashtag, each sharing a bit of their personal struggle as well. They plan to get together to discuss more ways to help when Lady Gaga crosses the pond later this year.

The chat that the two shared is just one preview of what to expect from Prince William’s ‘Heads Together’ which is a health initiative used to promote mental health in young adults across the world and securing a safe way to talk about problems and pain.

The campaign’s website says this about the initiative.

“Too often, people feel afraid to admit that they are struggling with their mental health. This fear of prejudice and judgment stops people from getting help and can destroy families and end lives. Heads Together wants to help people feel much more comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing and have the practical tools to support their friends and family.

The Heads Together campaign will build on the great work being done by our partner charities so that prejudice and fear no longer stand in the way of people getting the help they need.”

For those who feel alone, this campaign is a way to feel like there’s a light in the dark and a hope for a future that is full of life. There are many charity partners already on board and more information can be found about Heads Together on their web page.